To provide a method of operating a prime-mover which can perform combustion with a high degree of efficiency of power generation and with low NOx, and to operate a high temperature heating furnace with the use of oxygen combustion.
In a combustion system comprising an oxygen producing device 1, a high temperature heating furnace 2 and a prime-mover 3 (stoichiometric air-fuel ration combustion engine), oxygen generated from the oxygen producing device 1 is used as fuel for the high temperature heating furnace 2, and air by-produced during the production of oxygen and containing a less volume of oxygen is used as intake-air for the prime-mover 3 so as to drive the prime-mover. With the use of air containing a less volume of oxygen for the intake- air, since the specific heat ratio κ of combustion gas becomes larger even with the combustion having an air-fuel ratio which is a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio of 1, and since the engine compression ratio can be increased, the thermal efficiency becomes higher. The burnt waste gas is the same as the exhaust gas having a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and accordingly, ternary catalyst can be used for processing exhaust gas, thereby it is possible to reduce the volume of NOx emitted from the prime-mover. By using a power generated by the prime- mover itself as a power for operating the oxygen producing device, the production cost of oxygen can be reduced, and the melting cost in the high temperature furnace can be reduced.
OKAMOTO KAZUHISA
SAKURAI TERUHIRO
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